Meter box



F. C. HUSH July 4, 1933.

METER BOX Filed Jan. 2, 1929 Patented July 4, 1933 as new;

FOSS G. HUSH, OF LINCQLN, NEBRASKA METER BOX Application filed January 2, 1929 No. 329,798.-

It is the object of my invention to produce a box suitable for use in enclosing meters or other electrical apparatus to protect them from damage by the elements or by anyunauthorized tampering. More specifically, it is my object to produce such a box which will fit closely against the associated pole on which it is mounted, which will be exceedingly strong and rigid, which will provide ample space for such apparatus or instruments as maybe mounted within it, and which will be provided with a cover that when removed will. render the contents of the box readily accessible.

the box of sheet metal with rigidly interconnected back and top portions, the each being shaped to provide an outwardly presented concave surface adapted to lie closely against the pole on which the box is mounted. The cover of the box forms the front, bottom, and sides thereof and is removably secured to the front of the top portion in such a man ner that it may be swung in one direction to close the box and in the other direction to open it. v The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention: Fig. 1 is a view of the box 1 with the cover closed, showing in dotted lines the pole on which the box is mounted: Fig.

. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the box cover removed; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the box cover; Fig. 4 1s a vertical section 5." through the center of the box, showing; the

cave cylindrical surface adapted to fitrather closely against the surface of the pole 10. The top 12 is provided at its edges with depending flanges 13, and the back with for- I accomplish the above objects by forming);

wardly projecting; side flanges 1 1: and a bottom flange 15.

Desirably, the longitudinally extending cylindrical portion of the box-backll is of less width than the I 5 and 6.. From the longitudinal edges ofthe box,bas clear from Figs."-

curved partof the back there project inclined portions 11 which extend respectively to the rear edges of the side flanges M. Y may be formed in this shape of sheet metal Withoutthe necessity for any reenfore inent.

The cover terms the bottom. of the complete box, and is removably attached to the other part of the hex as by means of outwardly bent iingers21' which are secured to the tron-t1? near the top thereof 'and'are received from the insioein slots22 in the front flange 13. his method. of mount" ing permits the cover to be swung outward, to a position somewhat beyond thatillustrated in Fig. 4; and the lingers 21 can. then be dis: engaged from the slots to remove the cover entirely. As is clear from 1: the apparatus which may be mounter. in the box,

is thereby made accessible from the front, as well as from the sidesandbottom.

Within the box, i provide a panel 2% on which may be mounted the apparatus that the box is to contain. This panel is secured tothe back 11 by means of screws 25 on the vertical center line of the box and is conveniently supported at or near its edges by means of brackets 26 to which it may be secured by bolts 27.

The box maybe provided with knock-outs in any desired location. As shown, I have shown two such knock-outs 30 in the inclined portions 11 of the box-back, two more knockouts 31 in the box-top 12, and an additional pair 32 in the bottom flange 15. If the knoclo outs 31 and 32 are provided, they are preferably located as close as practicable to the back and sides of the box, in order that any cable or conduit passing through them may extend without much deflection into the space between the panel 24- and the box-bacl 11. To aid in thus disposing any cables or con duits, the corners on the panel 2 1 vmaybe cut away, as is clear from Fig. 2.

When thecover is in place,the upper ends front 1?, sides 18, and

all

of the front 17 and sides 18 are received within the flanges 13 which depend from the top 12. The vertical edges of the sides 18 *are received within the vertical flanges 14,

and the bottom flange extends outwardly a stationary abutment 36 mounted on thebottom flange 15 of the box-back. The interengaging portions of the latch and its associated abutment 36 are downwardly ex- 5 tending fingers or flanges 37 which have incli ned portions .as illustrated in Fig. 6 in order that a camming action tending to draw the cover tightlyinto place may be exerted when the latch is engaged. -Desirably, the flanges or fingers 37 are provided with ali-ned holes 38 for receiving the hasp of a padlock (not shown). v

For the purpose of mounting the box on the pole 1O,I'n1ay provide it'with mounting members 40 and ell. As, shown in the drawing, there is one mounting member 40, which is'secured to the back of the-box on the center line thereof and projects upwardly, its extending portion being provided with a 9 hole as for the reception of a suitable lag screw 43. Also as shown in the drawing, there aretwo of the mounting members 41. These are secured to the concave back 11 of the box and extend downwardly below the 35;; bottom edge thereof, where they are provided withholes 44L for the reception of screws.

As has been'pointed out above, the form of the cover and the type of its mounting 1 permit the contents of, the'box to be .made

91} readily accessible,'in front, from both sides and from the bottom. v By imparting a 0011- cave shape to the back of the box, I not, only secure a more satisfactory mounting on the pole, but also impart considerable rigidity" to the box. Further,the concave portion of the back 11 of the box provides the vertically extending spaces or channels between the panel EM-and the box-back, thus making it possible for connecting wires to be located therein away from the face of the panel 24.

I claim as my invention 2-- l. A box, comprising a back and top rigid with each other, a Cover formed to provide when 'in' place a bottom, sides, and a front for the box, and a panel within said box, I

said panel, the corners of said panel being cut away to provide access to said channels.

' 2. A box, compr sing a back and top rigid with each other, a cover formedto provide when in place a bottom, sides, and a front for the box, and a panel within said "box, sald box-back being formed with a long1tudinally extending, outwardly concave,-cylin-' drical surface forming within the box two longitudinally extending channels in rear of said panel.

3. A box havinga back, front,'top, bottom,

and side walls, the back of said box being formed with a longitudinally extending outwardly concave cylindrical surfacevof less width than the box and with two inclined portions extending respectively from thelongitudinal edges of said cylindrical surface to the rearedges of the box-sides, and a panel within the box, the cylindrical and inclined portions of the box-back forming within the box two longitudinally extending channels in rear. of said panel. i

in witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Lincoln, Nebraska, this 24th day of Decembe A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twenty-eightnv v ,FOSS C. 

